Porch Flower Containers
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At the end of August and the flower pots start showing some wear. Having filled these babies for several year, I’ve gotten a pretty good handle on what does well and what doesn’t. There’s been a LOT of trial and error let me tell you. A lot of money spent on annuals that just couldn’t take the heat on the deck.
The past two years, I’ve narrowed my buying down. I’ve made some containers that do well year after year and I’d like to share with you the best way to make a porch flower container with you all..
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Best Annuals for Full Sun
Lots of marigolds
Lots of impatien
Colius
Lots of begonias
Lobia
Alyssum
Lots of zinnias
Moss roses
Potato vines
Dusty miller
Spikes
Million bells
Wave petunias
Verbena
Four Easy Steps to Making Dazzling Flower Containers
After the pot is prepared for planting the fun part starts! You will want to put a tall plant called the thriller, the fillers that fill in the spaces and the spillers that drape down over the edge of the container. Combining these three types of plants will make a stunning container presentation every time!
Fill the Container with Potting Soil
Larger containers are easier to maintain than smaller ones (which dry out really quickly in hot weather). It is better to use containers that are at least 10″ in diameter.
Begin by placing either small gravel or broken shards of terracotta pots on the bottom of the container. This will help the container drain properly and not have the roots of your plants stay soggy. Fill the container with Miracle Grow potting soil to within an inch of the top.
The Thriller
Thrillers which can be either foliage or flowers should give height and make a statement. It can be placed in middle or in back of the container depending on where the planter will sit. Place in the center of the pot if it will be viewed from all sides, or at the back of the pot if the back view is blocked.
Dig it into the middle of the pot, with the top of the root ball a little lower than the edge of the container. If you won’t be able to see the container from the back, you can position it closer to the back of the pot since it will likely prevent you from seeing the smaller plants behind it.
Tip: Tickle the roots. Pulling the root ball apart at the bottom will make the plants send out new roots into your planter’s soil. Many of my flowers are almost root bound so this just frees the roots up to spread out easier.
The Fillers
The ‘fillers’ are medium-sized plants that will fill in the middle of the pot around the thrillers. Fillers should be shorter than the ‘Thriller’ and have more of a mounding or spreading nature. You can use more than one type of plant for your fillers, but it usually works best if you have at least 2 or 3 pots of each type. Repeating the plants gives some consistency to the planter. Adding ‘Fillers’ that have different leaf shapes and colors will add interest to your container.
The Spillers
The ‘spillers’ are those plants that naturally will drape and trail over the sides of the container.
The plants certainly seem a little crowded but that’s how the lush look is achieved, but that ‘s how you end up with a beautiful lush-looking container. Add soil to the container if there are any low spots. Be sure to move the planter into place before watering because trying to move the planters when they are full of water is heavy work!
Enjoy Your Flower Containers
So with some watering these plants will grow to fill the whole container. In addition, I water daily to keep the plants healthy, happy and full. As time passes, the containers fill in and put on a dazzling display of color and texture bringing so much satisfaction knowing that you created these things of colorful beauty!
Have questions or comments on the no-fail method to planting beautiful containers? Tell us in the section below.
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